Pigeon-hole case



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. D. C. MEEHAN,

PIGEON HOLE CASE.

No. 407,098. Patented July 16, 1889.

N. PETERS. mo-utmgnphu. wnminglnn. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. D. C. MEEHAN.

PIGEON HOLE CASE.

No. 407,098. Patented July 16, 1889.

UNITED STATES DAVID C. MEEIIAN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PIGEON-HOLE CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,098, dated July 16,1889.

Application filed February 23, 1889. Serial No. 300,842. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAvID C. MEEHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pigeon-Hole Cases, of which the following is a full and clear description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specilication, in which- Figure l represents a front view of a case of pigeon-holes constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the vertically-moving shutters, which close the entrance to the pigeon-holes in a closed condition. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing certain of the shutters raised and being held by the gravity-latch. Fig. -t is a detail of the gravity-latch. Fig. 5 is a modification to be referred to.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in pigeon-hole eases einployin g vertically-movin g shutters for closing the entrance to the pigeon-holes; and my invention consists, essentially, in a case of pigeon-holes having vertically-moving shutters arranged, preferably, in series, one series overlapping the other, whereby one or more shutters of each series maybe raised and lowered without disturbing those of the other series.

My invention also consists in providing each shutter with a gravity-latch which is designed to engage a fixed shelf or partition, whereby when the shutter is raised the latch engages said shelf or partition and holds the shutter and those Of the same series which may be above it in an elevated position, the said latch being automatically released from its engagement with its shelf or partition by the movement of any of the lower shutters of the same series, as I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe its construction and indicate the manner in which I carry the same out.

In the said drawings, A represents a case of any suitable size, design, and material, having a hollow top or cornice a and vertical and horizontal partitions I) and c, whereby the case is divided into any desired number of compartments or pigeon-holes for the reception of papers or other articles. The entrance to these compartments or pigeon-holes is protected and closed by vertically-moving shutters B, herein shown as being in series, preferably, of three, although any convenient number may be used, and these shutters are so disposed that the lower one of each series overlaps the upper one of the series immediately below it, a space being left in the hollow cornice for the reception of the shutters of each upper series and other spaces l being provided in the shelves or partitions c immediately above the top shutter of the other series for the reception of the top shutters of the lower series, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a short shelf or partition e being secured in the case immediately below the shelves or partitions c to serve as the medium by which the latch with which each of the shutters is provided is engaged, whereby the top shutters of the adjoining series are held in raised positions, as shown in Fig.

The latch D, with which each shutter is provided, is secured to the front of the shutter, near its lower edge, and consists of a bent plate j, having a vertical portion secured to the shutter, and a horizontal portion or iinger-piece g, by which the shutter is readily moved.

Upon the finger-piece are lugs 71, between which is pivoted the inner end of a gravitylever E, having loosely pivoted to it a pawl F, which passes through a slot l in the plate f and shutter, and has its inner end formed with a prong Im, which is designed to engage thehorizontal partitions or shelves of the case to hold the shutters in a raised position. The said case has also suitable rests or supports A for the lower shutters of the top series, as shown in Fig. 2.

Instead of supporting the shutters of the upper section upon the rest A', I may support the lower shutter of the upper series on the floors or bottom walls of the grooves in which the upper series of shutters slide, as shown in the modification, Fig. 5.

From this description it will be observed that the shutters of each upper series are supported upon the transverse rest or support A', the lower shutters of each series resting IOO 5 ment, the shutter closing that compartment is raised, thereby elevating all the shutters of the same series above it, so that each shutter elevated will occupy the space in front of the compartment next above it. The upper shutter of the top series, when any of that series is elevated, is forced into the space in the hollow cornice as shownA in Fig. 3. When elevated, the latch on the lower shutter of those elevated is pressed inward until its prong engages the horizontal partit-ion next \above it, and the whole series elevated is maintained in a raised position thereby. Vhen itis desired to return or lower the shutters, it is only necessary to slightly raise the lower one of the elevated series, which movement raises the shutters far enough to permit the latch carried by the lower sh utter to automatically fall by gravity out of connection with the partition,when the whole set of elevated shutters is readily lowered into the normal positions. The movements just described as applicable t-o the top series are alike adapted to the other shutters of the case, the short partitions serving as the supports for the latches of the upper shutters of the intermediate or other series.

I am thus enabled to construct a case of pigeon-holes where the shutters are arranged in series, so that those shutters of the same series may be raisedwithout disturbing those ot any other series, and without having to overcome the weight of an entire row of shutters.

Having th us described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pigeon-hole case having verticallymoving shutters arranged in series, those of one series overlapping those of adjoining scries, substantially as herein described.

2. A pigeon-hole case divided into compartments, in combination with vertically-moving shutters arranged in series, those of one series overlapping those of the series below it, and a rest or support for the upper series ot shutters, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination, with a case divided into compartments and having horizontal partitions or shelves, of vertically-moving shutters having pivoted gravity-latches engaging said partitions when the shutters are elevated and adapted to automatically fall out of conf-,

nection therewith when the shutters are moved, substantially as herein described.

4. The case divided into compartments having horizontal shelves or partitions, in combination with verticallymoving shutters arranged in overlapping series, rests or supports for the shutters of the upper series, and gravity-latches carried by the shutters and engaging the horizontal partitions or shelves, whereby said shutters are held in elevated positions, substantially as described.,

5. The combination, with a case containing compartments and vertically-moving shutters, of pivoted latches carried by the shutters and engaging the horizontal partitions or iioors of the compartments to maintain the shutters in raised positions, said latches being adapted to automatically fall out of engagement with the partitions or floors when the shutters are again .moved, substantially as herein described.

G. The combination, with a case containing compartments and provided with verticallymoving shutters, of the gravity-latch secured to each shutter and comprising a pivoted lever, and a pivoted pawl secured to the lever and having its inner end adapted to engage the horizontal partitions or floors of the compartments, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a case containing compartments and verticallymoving shutters, of a plate secured to each shutter, a gravity-lever pivoted to the plate, and a pawl pivoted to the lever and extending through the plate and shutter, said pawl having a prong at its inner end for engaging the floors of the compartments or horizontal partitions, substantially as herein described.

DAVID C. MEEI-IAN.

W'itnesses:

W. T. ELDRIDGE, C. ElWIARKEsoN. 

